Detachable agitator for washing-machines.



L. A. M'LUKEN.

' DETACHABLE AGITATOR FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION man JuLYz. 1915."

l ,m 6,47% Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

in nl@ LLOYD A. MILLIKEN, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb.. 20, 19117..

Application filed July 26, 1915. Serial No. 41,970.

To all whom it may concern.'

a citizen of the United States, residing at Lansing, in the county of Ingham and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Detachable Agitators for Washing-Machines, of which the following is a specification. l

This invention relates to detachable agitators for washing, machines, and belongs particularly in that class with washing machines provided with rotary and reciprocating beaters or agitators.

In those Washing machines of the type mentioned, with which this applicant is familiar, there is a beater device usually shaped like a stool in the top of the machine which works back and forth in a rotary manner, and at the same time is capable of an up and down movement. It has been found in practice with washing machines of this character that it is often necessary to use a washboard at the end of the operation to satisfactorily finish the cleansing of the clothes before they are taken from the tub. In leaving the cover or top raised so that the'tub may be used as a regular washing tub, the legs of the dolly project, and in bending over the tub the users complain that they are repeatedly hitting the legs of the dolly with their heads or hands. It is the object of this invention to provide an agitator having parts of special construction and arrangement that will enable a person by a simple movement to take the agitator oli or as readily replace it, and which will enable the agitator to perform its work while attached, without becoming detached during the operation of the Washing machine.

'Ihe preferred construction and arrangement of the parts of this invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure l represents a vertical section of a washing machine to which this invention has been applied. Fig. 2 is a like section of the upper portion of the washing machine, showing the cover raised and this invention removed. -Fig. 3 is a vertical section, somewhat enlarged, of the grooved sleeve and the spindle in engagement. Fig. 4c is a cross-section of the sleeve alone on the broken line of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the broken line y-y of Fig. 3.

Throughout the description and drawings l accidental contact the same letter is employed to refer to the Be it known that I, LLOYD A. MILIJKEN,

same part.

Considering the drawings, the washing machine A hasl a hinged cover a, and the cover is provided with a revoluble spindle B. E which has Lthe spaced lugs C and D. The lugs at different times engage the vertical grooves E and e, a central axial opening f. One of the grooves E of the sleeve has its ends closed, while the other groove e, is an open-ended groove extending the entire length of the sleeve. Both grooves open into the central opening or bore 7 of the sleeve F.

The sleeve F is attached to the body of the agitator G, and the central openingb, and the open-ended groove g of the agitator register with the like openings of the sleeve when the parts are assembled as illustrated in Fig. l. The open-ended groove g may be regarded as a continuation of the groove e, and is formed as illustrated for a special use. In describing one of the objects of this invention itV has been stated as desirable, to get the legs .of the dolly out of the way of with the person of the operator when the lid a is raised, by removing the dolly altogether. Oftentimes there is no convenient place to deposit the usually wet dolly, and the object of removing the dolly from shaft B entirely may be partially attained by taking the dolly off the shaft as explained, reversing it and replacing it upon shaft B with the legs toward the cover a. Such an arrangement gets the pro jecting legsout of the way, and a convenient support for the dolly is available.

Fig. 2 is introduced to show the washing machine with the cover a raised, and it will be at once observed how much the space over the tub is cleared for the operation of the user of the tub in the regular way.

As best shown in Fig. 3, when the sleeve is placed upon the spindle B, the lugs C and D enter the open-ended groove e, and, at certain points come opposite the horizontal passages H and 72, which connect the grooves E and e, and in the operation of this invention, by partially rotating the sleeve, the lugs will be brought into the groove E. It will be understood, that the sleeve and agitator may move up and down upon the spindle and be turned in one direction and then in the other while the lugs remain in engagement with the closed groove E. It hasA been found in practice that when the of a sleeve F, which has lugs are thus engaged with the closed groove E, the agitator very rarely becomes detached accidentally during the operation, and, if it should do so no harm results or time is said opening, the said groove being `open atboth ends, a sleeve attached to the upper surface of the'body of the agitator and having a central opening and an open-ended lost,=as the act of replacing or detaching irernal groove extendinglengthwise through the agitator is ,of the briefest description. By providing thev spindle with a pluralityv of lugs the parts Vare stronger and able to'v withstand rough usage.

`Having now described this invention, and explained the inode of its operation, what I claim is:--` o In Ya washing machine, the combination with a vcover having a revoluble spindle provided vvith spaced lugs, of an agitator hav-V ing a body portion provided with an axial opening and a longitudinal groove in the wall of said opening extending Copie'sof this patent may be obtained for through the v the said opening and registering with the said central opening and groove of the body, the said sleeve having also an internal longitudinal groove with closed ends formed in said central opening and horizontal passages connecting the said grooves, whereby the said lugs may be Caused to engage either the said closed or open groove of the sleeve, and whereby the said agitator may be removed and reversed.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

LLOYD A. MILLIKEN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

